Human Rights Abuses on Greece's Border with Turkey
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FRONTIER EUROPE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES ON GREECE’S BORDER WITH TURKEY Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 3 million supporters, members and activists in more than 150 countries and territories who campaign to end grave abuses of human rights. Our vision is for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. We are independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion and are funded mainly by our membership and public donations. First published in 2013 by Amnesty International Ltd Peter Benenson House 1 Easton Street London WC1X 0DW United Kingdom © Amnesty International 2013 Index: EUR 25/008/2013 English Original language: English Printed by Amnesty International, International Secretariat, United Kingdom All rights reserved. This publication is copyright, but may be reproduced by any method without fee for advocacy, campaigning and teaching purposes, but not for resale. The copyright holders request that all such use be registered with them for impact assessment purposes. For copying in any other circumstances, or for reuse in other publications, or for translation or adaptation, prior written permission must be obtained from the publishers, and a fee may be payable. To request permission, or for any other inquiries, please contact [email protected] Cover photo: Construction of the border fence in Evros region, Greece, February 2012. The 10.5km fence now shields the northern part of Greece’s land border with Turkey, which used to be one of the busiest transit points for irregular migration to Europe. © AP Photo/Nikolas Giakoumidi amnesty.org CONTENTS 1. Introduction: EU’s Frontier in the Eastern Mediterranean: the Greece -Turkey Border ........ 5 2. Crossings from Turkey to Greece ................................................................................. 7 3. Collective expulsions (push-backs) on the Greece-Turkey Border .................................... 9 3.1. Push-back operations putting lives at risk ............................................................ 11 3.2. Ill-treatment during push-back operations ........................................................... 13 4. Sweep operations resulting in collective expulsions .................................................... 15 5. Prolonged detention of asylum seekers and irregular migrants ...................................... 17 5.1. Detention conditions ......................................................................................... 19 5.2. Detention of children ........................................................................................ 21 6. Conclusion: Shared EU Responsibility for its External Borders ..................................... 24 Recommendations ...................................................................................................... 26 Glossary ..................................................................................................................... 28 Endnotes ................................................................................................................... 29 FRONTIER EUROPE 5 Human rights abuses on Greece’s border with Turkey 1. INTRODUCTION: EU’S FRONTIER IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN: THE GREECE- TURKEY BORDER “Don't you know they built a wall in the North? It is impossible to cross the land border now. Greece doesn't accept refugees anymore.” A., 27-year-old Palestinian refugee, said that the Greek coastguard pushed him back to Turkey along with 52 others in early February 2013. He was in detention in Turkey on 18 February 2013 when he was interviewed by Amnesty International. “The creation of the fence built by Greek resources is not the solution of the problem. But it is a measure, an option with a powerful symbolism, a message that shall reach nationals of third countries, smugglers and traffickers who want to use our country as a transit country for their migration to the countries of European Union .” Greek government ’s response to the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, 19 April 2013. 1 The external frontier of the EU between Turkey and Greece is made up of a 203km land border in the Evros region in the North and a sea border on the Aegean in the South. This border has long been one of the main entry routes for migrants and refugees trying to find safety or a better life in Europe. In 2012, it saw the largest number of irregular entries to the EU out of all the EU's external borders. 2 A large number of those arriving are from conflict- torn countries like Afghanistan and Syria. Research by Amnesty International has found instances of shocking human rights violations against them by the Greek authorities. In the last few years Greece has invested millions of euros in keeping migrants out. In 2012 it completed a 10.5km fence along its land-border with Turkey and deployed almost two thousand new border guards there. In the meantime, a new body established by law in 2011 to process asylum requests first began functioning – and then only partially – in June 2013. Amnesty International acknowledges the prerogative of states to control the entry into and stay of non-nationals in their territory and of the EU to support member states in carrying out legitimate border control. However, the manner in which Greece’s border with Turkey is being controlled is leading to serious human rights violations. Index: 25/008/2013 Amnesty International July 2013 6 FRONTIER EUROPE Human rights abuses on Greece’s border with Turkey The Greek government is trying to seal its borders not only through increased surveillance and the construction of a fence; but research by Amnesty International shows that those who do arrive are sometimes pushed straight back to Turkey. Those returned to Turkey under such circumstances are denied the chance to apply for asylum in Greece or explain whether they have other needs, in flagrant violation of international law. Amnesty International’s research also shows that the way in which such push -back operations are carried out by the Greek border guard or coastguard is putting lives at risk. Several of those interviewed by Amnesty International claimed they were abandoned in the middle of the sea on unseaworthy vessels or left on the Turkish side of the land border with tied hands. As Turkey only recently passed its first law on international protection and does not provide refugee status to those coming from countries that are not members of the Council of Europe, the support individuals sent back to Turkey receive remains highly limited. Various human rights bodies and non-governmental organizations have also highlighted the difficulties of accessing protection in Turkey and the risk of being sent back to a country where some might face persecution or other serious harm. 3 Migrants intercepted at borders and irregular migrants identified in the course of sweep operations within Greece, face lengthy detention – often in appalling conditions – without an assessment of the necessity and proportionality of detention as required by law. Other EU member states appear only too happy for Greece to act as their gatekeeper. But the policies and practices along the Greek border do not just shame Greece: they shame the European Union as a whole. They expose the bitter irony of European countries pressing for peace abroad while denying asylum to, and risking the lives of those who seek refuge in Europe from conflicts in their homelands. METHODOLOGY This report is prepared based on information collected from migrants, refugees, non-governmental organisations, lawyers, relevant government authorities and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Greece in the course of research visits to Turkey and Greece in March and April 2013. Updated information was also gathered through telephone interviews in May and June 2013. Amnesty international researchers conducted almost 80 individual interviews with refugees and migrants who had recently crossed, or attempted to cross, the border between Greece and Turkey. This report also draws on discussions with groups of detainees and observations at nine facilities in Greece and one facility in Turkey (Edirne Removal Centre), where irregular migrants and asylum seekers were detained. Individual interviewees included women, men and unaccompanied children from Afghanistan (24), Algeria (1), Bangladesh (1), Cameroon (1), Eritrea (3), Iran (2), Iraq (2), Ivory Coast (1), Morocco (1), Nigeria (1), Palestine (4), Somalia (14), Sudan (10) and Syria (14). Amnesty International July 2013 Index: 25/008/2013 FRONTIER EUROPE 7 Human rights abuses on Greece’s border with Turkey 2. CROSSINGS FROM TURKEY TO GREECE Up until 2010, most migrants and refugees sought to reach Greece by crossing the Aegean Sea in small boats. 4 That year the main route shifted to the land border in the Evros region, which for the most part runs along the River Evros. This was partly because of increased surveillance at sea by Greek coastguards supported by Frontex – the European Border Agency 5 - and partly because the Greek government had removed the anti-personnel mines along the land border, making it less dangerous for migrants to cross on foot from Turkey. 6 In mid-August 2012, however, Greece launched Operation Aspida (Shield) to stop migrants entering irregularly across the Evros border by deploying more than 1,800 additional police officers 7 and constructing a 10.5km fence